Tensions at Dortmund increase among players and leadership
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Tensions are rumoured to be high in the Borussia Dortmund dressing room following their disappointing 2-2 draw with Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt during the week.
According to Sky Sports Germany, discontent within the dressing room and among the fans is growing.
The loudest cheers from fans on the night were reserved for Marco Reus and Kevin Großkreutz, while the boos at full-time underscored supporters’ frustration.
BVB’s Nico Schlotterbeck was very critical of their performance against the Eliteserien runners-up. While he didn’t exactly name any one player in particular, some criticism was levelled at both Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi, who were subbed on in the 67th minute. Schlotterbeck said: "When you come on in the 60th minute, I expect 30 minutes of full throttle.” “They lost every ball”, he added. After the match, Adeyemi admitted that it was one of his worst games.
Harsh criticism of teammates voiced publicly after a game is unusual, though not entirely unproductive. While it illustrated his disappointment, it also showed a high level of ambition for the club and squad. Schlotterbeck is highly sought after in the transfer market. If he was resigned to an exit in the summer, he would not have voiced his opinion openly. Schlotterbeck’s decision whether or not to extend his contract at Dortmund is reportedly based on the prospect of winning titles at the club.
According to Bild, Nico Kovac lectured the team after they let victory slip away, with similar criticism to Schlotterbeck’s. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl agreed with Kovac’s decision to criticise his players, he said: “The players should be aware of what they’ve thrown away here today.” He criticised what he called an “arrogance” among the team, believing they expected an easy victory.
These feelings are not new. Julian Brandt openly questioned the style of football employed by the team and expressed his dissatisfaction after Dortmund’s 2-0 victory over Hoffenheim last week. Despite scoring in that game, Brandt said: “To be honest, it's not my way of playing football when you look at the 90 minutes.”
On Thursday, in the wake of the Champions League matchday, Kovac spoke passionately about the ambition he has for the team. He said: “We have to show a reaction after yesterday’s game – just as we did after the cup game. That’s what I expect from us.” He added: “The expectations of the players and of the coaching team are very high. We are at BVB, we want to be successful.”
